Mexico is diverting untreated wastewater into the Tijuana River as it works to repair its faulty sewage infrastructure. About five million gallons per day (MGD) have been diverted since April 8 as Mexico repairs a critical junction box that is a part of its International Collector project. The junction box must be dried so it can be rebuilt with reinforced concrete. On Wednesday, Mexico shut off the water supply to a portion of Tijuana for other projects, which eliminated the need to divert wastewater into the Tijuana River. Because of that, the average daily impact has been three million gallons per day, according to Maria-Elena Giner, commissioner for the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. To help remove as much wastewater as possible from the river, Mexico is working to activate its PBCILA lift station, which is usually turned off during the dry season. It is expected to be operational by Sunday.

Other Tijuana River news:

• FOX5/KUSI (San Diego): Millions of gallons of sewage now flowing into the Tijuana River — but why?
• CBS 8 (San Diego): Mexico releases millions of gallons of wastewater into Tijuana River for critical repair project
• San Diego Red: Water treatment plant in San Antonio de los Buenos transforms Tijuana’s environmental landscape